Clock-setting device.



F. LIVINGSTON.

OLOCK SETTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1910.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 P. LIVINGSTON.

I CLOCK SETTING DEVICE. rrnmumn FILED JULY 8, 1910,

979,402. Patented Dec.20,1910.

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F. LIVINGSTON. CLOCK SETTING DEVICE.

A'PPLIOATIOH FILED JULIE, 1910.

Patehted Dec. 20, 1910.

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F. LIVINGSTON.

GLOOK SETTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1910. 979,402. Patented Dec,20, 1910.

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UNITED STATES Prgl EN T OFFICE.

FRANK LIVINGSTON, OF NEW BOSTON, ILLINOIS.

CLOCK-SETTING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK LIVINGSTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Boston, in the county of Mercer and State of Illinois,have invented new and useful Improvements in ClocleSetting De vices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a clock setting mechanism, whereby the handsof the clock can be set without opening the door of the case.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a novel clocksetting mechanism which is of con'iparatively simple and inexpensiveconstruction, reliable and eflicient in use, and readily manipulated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device foreffecting the forward setting of the hands in such a manner that thehands can quickly turn to a position closely approximating the correcttime and can thereafter be turned step by step until the hands areaccurately set.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means forthe backward setting of the hands when they have been turned too far, orwhen the clock is running fast.

lVith these objects in view, and others, as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel featuresof construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fullydescribed hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claimsappended hereto.

In the aecon'ipanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 is a partial front view of a clock showing theposition of the hand-setting buttons. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe clock showing the time mechanism with a setting attachment applied.Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. %l is ahorizontal section on line 4*4, showing the clock mechanism in plan.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts that constitute the settingattachment. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the means forclutching and unclutching the pinion of the escapement shaft. Fig. 7 isa sectional view of the setting mechanism in use for setting the handsminute by minute. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line S8, Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters are employed Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed July 8, 1910.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

Serial No. 570,993.

to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the case of a clock in which 15mounted any suitable clock works, designated generally by B, and havingminute and hour hands 1 and 2 that travel over the dial 3. The clockmechanism is provided with the usual escapement shaft l carrying anescapement wheel with which cooperates an escapement 6, and this shaftis driven by a wheel 7 that is in turn driven by a train of gears 8 ofthe clock mechanism. On the escapement wheel shaft 4 is a pinion 9 ofthe lantern type with which the teeth of the wheel 7 mesh, and thispinion is loose on its shaft and is adapted to be clutched or unclutchedwith respect thereto. For this purpose, a sleeve 9 is arranged on. theshaft 4. and backed by a spring 10 which presses the sleeve and also thepinion rearwardly, so that the pinion will frictionally engage a collar11 fixed on the shaft 4. The spring 10 surrounds the shaft and bearsagainst a collar 12 fixed on the latter.

The pinion is adapted to be released from the escapement when the handsof the clock are to be set and to do this, a device 13 is employed,which has a forked end 16 straddling the sleeve 9 and engaging betweenthe flanges 15 thereof. This device 13 passes through the rear plate 16of the frame of the clock mechanism, and on this rear plate is fulcrumedat a, lever 17 which is pivotally connected with the device 13. Thelever 17 has on its upper end a pivot stud 18 that loosely extendsthrough an opening 19 in a push rod 21 that extends through an opening22 in the front of the casing where it is equipped with the push button23 and between this push button and the front of the clock case is acompression spring 24: that causes the push rod 21 to return to normalposition when the button 23 is released after being pressed. By pushinginwardly on the button 23, the device 13 is shifted forwardly andreleases the sleeve 9 from the pinion 9 so that the same will be freedfrom the collar 11 and unclutched from the escapement shaft 4, althoughthe pinion will remain in mesh with the wheel 7. The forward portion ofthe device 13 is supported by a link 25 hingedly connected at its lowerend 26 to the said device and at its upper end 27 to the bar 21. Whenthe pinion is thus released, the gears of thel clock mechanism are freeto turn under the 5 tension of the clock spring or weights, since 5 theescapement mechanism is thereby rendered inoperative. In order toprevent the turning of the clock hands too quickly when the pinion isthus released, a brake device is employed for retarding the movement andthis device takes the form of a plurality of forwardly extending pins 28on the wheel 7, with which a brake shoe in the form of a spring 29engages when the bar 21 is pressed rearwardly by the push button Asshown in Fig. 2, the said spring shoe is disposed out of the path of thepins 28 so that the operation of the clock will not be interfered with,but when the push button 23 is pushed for the purpose of setting theclock hands ahead, the spring 29 is moved into the path of the pins orpegs 28 on the wheel 7, while the escapement pinion 9 is being releasedfrom the shaft '.l:. lVhile the finger is held on the push button 23,the movement of the hands is observed and as soon as the hands reach theproper position. the push button is released so that the pinion 9 canre-clutch the shaft at and thus bring the escapement device intooperation, the brake shoe 29 being, of course, at the same time removedfrom the brake pins 28 when the push button is released.

If the forward setting of the clock hands *annot be accurately obtainedby the forward setting device, just described, the movement of the handscan be arrested by releasing the push button when the minute hand isalmost at the proper point. For accurate setting. the push button andbar 21 can be moved from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown inFig. 7, the opening 22 being in. the form of a slot so as to provide forthis movement. By laterally shifting and slightly turning the pushbutton in this manner, the brake spring will be disposed with its freeend over and bearing on the staff or shaft 30 of the wheel 7. as shownin Fig. 7. The push button, while the bar 21 is sealed in the right endof the slot 22, can now be pressed inwardly to unclutch the pinion 9from the escapement shaft 4, but the wheel 7 can turn a distance equalto that between two adjacent pins 28. and is then arrested by the spring29 which will not yield because its free end bears on the shaft 30. Thepressure on the push button is then released so that the spring willexpand and cause the pinion of the escapement to again clutch the shaft4;. i The push button is again pressed inwardly and strikes the toothwith which it previously engaged. but passes along the opposite sidethereof or in the space between the flat tooth and the succeeding oneand during this movement of the push button, the pinion 9 is unclutchedso that the wheel '7 will turn another step, the turning of the wheelbeing, of course, caused by the clock spring or weight. P this repeatedpressing and releasing of the push button, the wheel 7 can be turnedstep by step and thus bring the minute hand up to the proper point. Inorder to permit the spring to engage the proper sides of the pins 28,the latter may be beveled at their forward extremities. IVith a forwardtime setting means of this character, it is possible to roughly set thehands by pressing inwardly on and holding pressed the push button whenthe same is in the position shown in Fig. 3 or its bar 21 is in the.left end of the slot 22, until the hands are approximately in the rightposition, and then accurately adjust the hands by the re peated pressingand releasing of the push button when the latter is in the positionshown in Fig. 7.

For effecting the reverse setting of the hands. a separate device isemployed. This consists of a combined rotary and longitudinally-movablebar 31 suitably mounted on the clock frame and having on its forward enda push button behind which is a spring 33 that urges the bar 31forwardly. On this bar is a gear wheel 34, the teeth of which areadapted to mesh with the teeth of the wheel 7 when the push button 32 ispressed inwardly. 'hile the push button 32 is held pressed inwardly. itis turned so as to cause. the wheel 34 to rotate the wheel 7. and thusshift the hands of the clock and while this operation is intendedprimarily for the backward setting of the clock hands. it is possible toset the hands forwardly if desired without using the button 23. \Vhenthe push button 32 is released, the wheel 7 is free from the wheel 3t sothat the normal operation of the clock will not be interfered with. Inturning the clock hands by the button the pinion 9 will slip aroundbetween the sleeve 9' and collar 11, while the escapement 6 holds theshaft 4: from turning with the pinion.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the ad 'antag s of the construction and of themethod of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invention appertains, and while I have described theprinciple of operation of the invention. together with the device whichI now consider to be the best embodiment thereof. I desire to have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that suchchanges may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

lvhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Thecombination of a clock mechanism including an escapement shaft, a pinionmounted on the shaft, a gear permanently meshing with the pinion, meansfor clutching and unclutching the pinion to and from the shaft, meansfor yieldinglv holding the pinion clutched to the shaft, a device formoving the pinion to unclutched position, said device consisting of apush rod, a lever numnted on the clock frame and connected with the rod,and means between the lever and pinion for shifting the latter.

2. The combination of a clock mechanism including an escapement shaft. apinion thereon, means for normally clutching the pinion to the shaft,and means for unclutching the pinion, said latter means consisting of aspring pressed element, a lever connected with the element, and meansbetween the lever and pinion for releasing the latter.

8. The combination of a clock includii'ig an escapemcnt shaft, a pinionmounted thereon. a gear permanently meshing with the pinion. a clutchfor connecting the pinion with the shaft, aspring for holding the clutchclosed, and means for releasing the pinion against the tension of thespring for opening the clutch.

4-. A clock-setting mechanism including an escapement shaft, a pinionslidably mounted on the shaft, a gear meshing with the pinion, means forclutching the pinion to the shaft, a spring for holding the pinion inclutched position, a push rod extending into the case, a lever connectedwith the rod, a member hingedlv connected with the lever and ar rangedto unclntch the pinion by acting against the tension of the spring. anda link connected with the mei'nber and with the said rod.

The combination of a clock case, a clock works mechanism mountedtherein, said mechanism including an escapement shaft, a pinion slidablymounted on the shaft, a gear meshing with the pinion, means forclutching the pinion to the shaft, a spring for holding the pinion inclutched position, a push rod extending into the case, a cleverconnected with the rod, a member hingedly connected. with the lever andarranged to release the pinion by operating against the tension of thespring. a link connected with the member and with the said rod, a pushbutton on the outer end of the rod, and a spring interposed between thebutton and clock case for operating through the rod for holding the saidmember released from the pinion.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of an escapementwheel shaft, a pinion adapted to be clutched to and unclutched from theshaft, a wheel meshing with the pinion and operatively connected withthe hands of a clock for setting the same, a brake for the wheel, andmeans for setting the brake when the pinion is unclutched to preventfree rotation of the wheel.

T. In a device of the class described, the combination of an cscapementwheel shaft, a pinion adapted to be clutched to and unclutched from theshaft, a wheel meshing with the pinion hands, and means for operativelyconnecting the hands with the said wheel for setting the hands thereby,a brake for the wheel, and a device for releasing the pinion andactuating the brake.

8. A. hand setting device for clock mechanism including an escapementwheel shaft, a pinion thereon, means for clutching and unclutching thepinion to and from the shaft, a wheel meshing with the pinion andforming a part of the time mechanism of the clock, pins on the wheel, aspring forming a brake ele "lent, and means for moving the spring intoei'igagement with the pins of the wheel when the pinion is unclutchedfrom the shaft.

9. A hand setting device for clock mechanism including an cscapementwheel shaft, a pinion thereon, means for clutching and unclutching thepinion to and from the shaft, a wheel meshing with the pinion andforming a part of the time mechanism of the clock, pins on the wheel, aspring forming a brake element, means for moving the spring intoengagement with the pins of the wheel when the pinion is unclutched fromthe shaft, and a spring device for returning the said means to normalposition when released.

10. In a clock setting novice, the combination of an escapement wheelshaft, a pinion thereon. means for connecting or dis connecting thepinion to the shaft, a wheel meshing with the pinion, a brake elementoperating on the wheel to retard the movement thereof when the pinion isdisconnected from the shaft, and means for operating the brake elementfor controlling the wheel to move step by step.

11. In a setting mechanism for a clock. hands, a wheel operativel 7connected with the hands, an escapement controlling the movement of thewheel, means for rendering the escapement inoperative, and a brakedevice for retarding the movement of the wheel as the same turns forsetting the clock hands.

12. In a setting mechanism for a clock, hands, a wheel operativelyconnected with the hands, an escapement controlling the movement of thewheel, means for rendering the escapement inoperative, pins on the saidwheel, and a spring movable into engage ment with the pins for retardingthe move ment of the wheel when the escapement is inoperative and thehands of the clock are setting.

13. In a clock setting mechanism, the combination of hands, a wheeloperatively connected with the hands, an escapement, means for renderingthe escapement inoperative to permit the wheel to turn independentlythereof, a device acting as a brake when the escapement is inoperativeto retard the rotation of the wheel, and means including a push buttonfor actuating the device to engage and disengage the wheel successivelyto permit the latter to move step by step for fine adjustment of theclock hands.

ll. In a clock setting mechanism, the combination of hands, a wheeloperatively connected with the hands, an escapement, a device forrendering the eseapement inoperative, a spring on the device, pins onthe wheel with which the spring is adapted to engage when the escapementis inoperative, and means for actuating the device to move the springinto and out of engagement with the pins successively to permit a stepby step movement of the said wheel.

15. In a clock setting mechanism, the combination of hands, a wheeloperatively connected with the hands, an escapement controlling themovement of the wheel, a push bar operatively connected with the escapement for rendering the same inoperative, spaced devices on the wheel,and a spring on the bar movable into the path of the devices when thebar is actuated to release the escapement, said bar being shiftablelaterally to change the position of the spring to the said devices forpermitting the bar to be reciprocated to successively throw theescapement into and out of operation and engage the spring with thesuccessive devices to permit the wheel to move step by step inaccurately setting the clock hands.

16. In a clock mechanism, the combination of hands, a wheel operativelyconnected with the hands, an escapement, a forward setting device forreleasing the escapement to per- 40 mit the wheel to turn and move thehands of the clock forwardly by the clock mechanism, and a devicemovable into engagement with. the wheel for turning the latter withoutthe escapement interfering to set the hands of the clock independentlyof the clock mechanism.

17. In a clock setting apparatus, the combination of a clock mechanismincluding hands, a wheel operatively connected with the hands, anescapement, means for throwing the escapement out of operation to permitthe wheel to turn automatically in forward setting of the hands, andmeans movable into engagement. with the said wheel for turning the wheelmanually in the forward or backward setting of the clock hands.

18. In clock setting apparatus, the combination of an escapement shaft,a pinion loosely mounted thereon, a normally-closed clutch foroperatively connecting the pinion with the shaft, a wheel forming a partof the clock mechanism and meshing permanently with the pinion, and asetting device normally disengaged from the wheel and movable to engageand turn the same while the pinion slips on the shaft.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK LIVINGSTON Vitnesses CHAS. HALE, A. C. MYERS.

